Lubricant dispenser for attachment to a sewing machine



Nov. 5, 1963 5, ABRAMQWICZ 3,109,398

LUBRICANT DISPENSER FOR ATTACI'MENT TO A SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1960 Ma wire 5 flamwaw/cz Arrx United States Patent 3,169,398 LUBRXCANT DIESPENSER FGR ATTACHMENT TO A SEWING MACHINE Maurice S. Abramowicz, 43 Blvd. de Strasbourg, Paris 10, France Filed Eept. 16, 196i Ser. No. 56,504 Claims priority, application France Sept. 22, 1959 3 Claims. (Cl. 112218) This invention relates to fluid or liquid dispensers or distributors, particularly for dispensing lubricants to workpieces in sewing machines.

The invention relates rnore specifically to the lubrication of workpieces of strip or sheet material of plastics, waxed canvas, or oiled fabric, the surface structure of which causes their travel to be restricted to a greater or lesser extent during the sewing process by the sole of the presser foot of a conventional sewing machine with a single drive this frictional drag necessitates the manual greasing (by means of a brush, sponge or rag) of the upper surface of the workpiece with a lubricating agent. T his operation naturally reduces the output of the machine and of the operator.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant dispenser for attachment to a sewing machine of the type cited above, and which automatically provides for said lubrication of the workpiece.

According to the present invention I provide a lubricant dispenser for attachment to a sewing machine to lubricate a workpiece being stitched by the sewing machine, comprising a reservoir for fluid lubricant, a lubricant applicator engageable with the workpiece and in communication with the reservoir, and valve means operable by the vibration of the sewing machine to cause a flow of lubricant from the reservoir to the applicator during operation of the machine.

In one form, the dispenser consists of a container for the fluid or liquid to the base of which reservoir is attached a delivery tube; a support enables the container to be fixed on the machine in a substantially vertical position and communication between the container and the tube is interrupted, when the machine is inoperative, by a ball resting freely on a seating, which ball, during operation of the machine, is caused to chatter by the vibration of the machine sufliciently to permit fluid or liquid to flow into the tube.

The part of the tube connected to the container terminates inside the supporting block in a small shoulder or spigot, and an applicator tube, force-fitted on the spigot is axially rotatable and forms an extension of the first tube, is open at its free end and is so shaped as to be able, when swung downwards, to have its free end located in front of the presser foot. A roller of spongy material, e.g. felt or the like, is freely mounted on the open, free end of the applicator tube and, making contact with the workpiece surface to be greased or lubricated, deposits on said surface a fluid or liquid film of the lubricant it has absorbed through lateral orifices preferably forming the open (outlet) end of the applicator tube. A spring tends constantly to press the lubricating roller with a moderate pressure onto the surface to be treated, once the applicator is in the working position. When the machine is stichting workpieces which do not require lubrication, the applicator is raised by the hinge provided for this purpose, so that at once the application of the liquid is discontinued, in spite of the vibration of the machine; for this purpose, it is sufficient to raise the roller to a level above that of the fluid or liquid in the container.

The flow of the fluid or liquid in the applicator is suitably restricted and controlled by the provision on the Whole or a part of its bore length, of radially projecting ribs.

In a modified form of construction particulary suitable for use with a fluid with a high coefficient of viscosity, the ball valve is placed in the upper part of the container, above the highest level of the contents, i.e. freely exposed to the air or in a chamber communicating freely with the atmosphere, so that it can vibrate sufficiently with the vibrations of the machine.

A ball valve placed in this way above the level of the viscous fluid can furthermore be used in conjunction with a second ball valve placed at the bottom of the container, if the liquid or fluid in question is relatively volatile: in this modified form, the upper ball valve, while still acting as a regulator, also serves: as a sealing valve preventing evaporation of the contents of the container.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation in partial section of a lubricant dispenser in the out-of-use position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting for the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser mounted on the arm of a sewing machine;

FIG. 4 is an axial section of a first modified form (ball valve at the top); and

FIG. 5 is an axial section of a second modified form (two ball valves).

Referring first to 'FIGS. 1 to 3, 1 is the stationary rm of the sewing machine, under which is rigidly mounted a reservoir container or tank 2 the delivery tube 3 of which is connected by the spigot 3' to a U-shaped applicator tube 4 which hinges about the spigot. The support 5 secures the whole assembly on the presserfoot shank under the arm 1 of the machine.

The end of the applicator tube 4 remote from the spigot 3' has mounted thereon a sponge roller 6 which absorbs liquid or fluid passing through the tubes 3 and 4 and through radial regulating ducts in a needle 7 contained in the end of tube 4, and thence through lateral holes 8 provided in the wall of the said end and into the roller 6. A leaf spring 9 (FIG. 2) presses on the flat surface of a square cam 10 secured to the tube 4 and so holds the roller 6 with a moderate pressure on the part 10 to be stitched, or against an adjacent fiat surface of the same square cam 10 (which pivots about the axis of tube 4) to hold the tube 4 in raised out-of-use position. The hole 11 and the locking screw 12 (FIG; 2) enable the support 5 to be adjustably secured on the machine so that the roller 6 is located opposite the presser foot 13 (MG. 3). For this purpose, a ring 14 is provided for the lateral positioning of the tube 4.

The tank 2 is filled through an upper connecting chamber 15, and FIG. 1 shows the ball 16 resting on its seating 17 the central opening of which communicates directly with the delivery tube 3.

It can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 that the contents of the tank 2, e.g. Vaseline oil, cannot descend into the tube 3 when the machine is at rest as the ball valve 16 rests on its seating. But as soon as the vibration of the running machine begins to make itself felt, the ball dances or chatters on its seating and allows a quantity of fluid to pass, proportional to the force and duration of the vibration, through the tubes 3 annd 4 and to travel as far as the roller 6 which has been lowered and lies in a suitable position opposite the presser foot 13. When the vibration ceases, the flow past the seating 17 also ceases. However to prevent the capillary force from allowing a little fluid to drip through the roller 6, the lat- 3 ter is raised into its upper out-of-use position in which the applicator forms with the container a U-trap for the fluid.

In the modified form in accordance with PEG. 4, the tank 2 contains a fluid with a fairly high coefiicient of viscosity which would impede the motions of the ball. Therefore, the ball 16a is arranged on a seating 17 around an opening 17 in the centre of a lid 18 of the tank 2, Le. in the bottom of the upper chamber 15 used for filling purposes. Alternatively, it is possible to locate the ball and seating eccentrically inside or outside the chamber 15, depending on the design requirements and .the technical manufacturing conditions: if the ball 16a is inside the chamber 15 (as in the form of construction shown in FIG. 4), the chamber should have at least one aperture 15a ensuring free communication with the atmosphere. If outside the chamber, it would be sufficient to house the ball in a case or sheath opening upwards and in which it can jump freely without escaping while allowing the atmospheric pressure to act on the surface of the fluid at short intervals in rapid succession, and to force the fluid into the lower passage 17.

FIG. 5 shows another alternative form of construction, for the case in which the contents of the tank 2 are relatively volatile. In this case, in addition to the ball 16 at the bottom of the tank (as in FIG. 1), there'is advantageously a second bail 16a placed in the lid 18 (as in FIG. 4). In this case, the upper ball 16a also acts as a sealing member preventing evaporation of the volatile substance through the top but, while the machine is functioning, permitting the atmospheric pressure to act on the surface of said substance. 7

In all cases, the orifice in the'lower seating 17 has the fluid or liquid passing therethrough only while the machine is operating. If the fluid is very viscous, the form of construction in accordance with FIG. 4 is preferred;

I tubes 3 and 4 directly debouch into said hearing.

I claim:

1. A lubricant dispenser for attachment to a sewing machine to lubricate a workpiece being stitched by the sewing machine, comprising a support adapted to be mounted on the resser-foot shank under the machines stationary arm, a fluid-lubricant reservoir carried by the support, a conduit arm communicating with the reservoir and ex tending downwards from the support, being pivotally mounted at its upper end on the support for up-and down hinging movement, loading means yieldingly urging the arm downwards, an absorbent roller mounted at the free end of the pivotal arm to receive lubricant from the reservoir and yieldingly engage the workpiece, and a valve carried by the support and controlling gravitational flow of lubricant from the reservoir to the roller, the valve having a seating and a valve member resting under its own weight on the seating for operative movement relative to the seating under the effect of vibration operation of the machine, and vibration so generated down hinging movement, loading means yieldingly urging the arm downwards, an absorbent roller mounted at the free end of the pivotal arm to receive lubricant from the reservoir and'yieldingly engage the workpiece, an upper valve for controlling inlet of air to the reservoir, and a lower valve forcontrolling gravitational flow of lubricant from t-he'reservoir to the roller, each of said valves having a seating and a valve member resting under its own weight on the seating and free to vibrate independently of the other valve member under the effect of vibration generated by the moving parts of the machine during operation of the machine, and the vibration so generated being transmitted through said support to the valve members which permit flow of lubricant to the roller and which rest on their seatings to seal the reservoir when the machine is inoperative.

3. A lubricant dispenser for attachment to a sewing machine to lubricate a workpiece being stitched by the sewing machine, comprising a support adapted to be mounted on the presser-foot shank under the machines Y stationary arm, a fiuiddubricant reservoir carried by the support, a conduit arm communicating with the reservoir and extending downwards from the support, being pivotally mounted at its upper end on the support for up-and-down hinging movement, loading means yieldingly urging the arm downwards, an absorbent roller mounted at the free end of the pivotal arm to receive lubricant from the reservoir and yieldingly engage the workpiece, the pivotal arm being hingeable between a lowered, op-

erative position in which the roller yieldingly engages the workpiece, and a raised, out-of-use position in which it forms with the resenvoir a U-trap for the lubricant, and a valve carried by the support and controlling gravitational flow of lubricant from the reservoir to the roller, the valve having a seating and a valve member resting under its own weight on the seating for operative movement relative to the seating under the elfect of vibration generated by the moving parts of the machine during operation of the machine, and vibration so generated being transmitted through said support to the valve member which permits fiow of lubricant to the roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,450 Young May 27, 1884, 899,352 Stewart Sept. 22, 1908 1,332,536 Baynard Mar. 2, 1920 1,463,765 Newton July 31, 1923 2,442,222 Uccellini Mar. 25, 1948 2,762,454- Sauer Sept. 11, 1956 2,925,795 Caldwell et al. Feb. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 602,665 Germany July 19, 1932 

1. A LUBRICANT DISPENSER FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SEWING MACHINE TO LUBRICATE A WORKPIECE BEING STITCHED BY THE SEWING MACHINE, COMPRISING A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE PRESSER-FOOT SHANK UNDER THE MACHINE''S STATIONARY ARM, A FLUID-LUBRICANT RESERVOIR CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT, A CONDUIT ARM COMMUNICATING WITH THE RESERVOIR AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDS FROM THE SUPPORT, BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS UPPER END ON THE SUPPORT FOR UP-ANDDOWN HINGING MOVEMENT, LOADING MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING THE ARM DOWNWARDS, AN ABSORBENT ROLLER MOUNTED AT THE FREE END OF THE PIVOTAL ARM TO RECEIVE LUBRICANT FROM THE RESERVOIR AND YIELDINGLY ENGAGE THE WORKPIECE, AND A VALVE CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT AND CONTROLLING GRAVITATIONAL FLOW OF LUBRICANT FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE ROLLER, THE VALVE HAVING A SEATING AND A VALVE MEMBER RESTING UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT ON THE SEATING FOR OPERATIVE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE SEATING UNDER THE EFFECT OF VIBRATION GENERATED BY THE MOVING PARTS OF THE MACHINE DURING OPERATION OF THE MACHINE, AND VIBRATION SO GENERATED BEING TRANSMITTED THROUGH SAID SUPPORT TO THE VALVE MEMBER WHICH PERMITS FLOW OF LUBRICANT TO THE ROLLER. 